En8d Carbon Steel Bright Bars Application: Axles And Shafts

EN8 is a very popular grade of through-hardening medium carbon steel, which is readily machinable in any condition EN8 is suitable for the manufacture of parts such as general-purpose axles and shafts, gears, bolts and studs. It can be further surface-hardened typically to 50-55 HRC by induction processes, producing components with enhanced wear resistance. For such applications the use of EN8D is advisable. It is also available in a free-machining version, EN8M, EN8 in its heat treated forms possesses good homogenous metallurgical structures, giving consistent machining properties.
Good heat treatment results on sections larger than 63mm may still be achievable, but it should be noted that a fall-off in mechanical properties would be apparent approaching the centre of the bar.
It is therefore recommended that larger sizes of EN8 are supplied in the untreated condition, and that any heat treatment is carried out after initial stock removal. This should achieve better mechanical properties towards the core.